Happy New Year from Shortwave Central

This has been an incredible year for the Shortwave Central blog and her sister blogs MT Milcom and Btown Monitoring Post. Our numbers continue to increase, thanks to you our readers.

A few weeks ago, we expanded our coverage to include post on Twitter (QSLRptMT) (MilcomMP)and the Monitoring Times Shortwave Central Facebook fan page. We're also partnering with the GlobalNet Internet Radio blogspot. (Twitter: GlobalNetMT) If you haven't taken advantage of our new expansions, we encourage you to do so.

This is an exciting time in the world of shortwave and we will continue to bring you the latest. We always welcome your comments or contributions via email to the above email address.

Happy New Year to all our readers around the globe

Radio Netherlands Program Preview, Jan 1-7

Welcome to our weekly guide to Radio Netherlands Worldwide's English Service - a list of the new programmes coming up on Radio Netherlands Worldwide this coming week, beginning on Saturday.

We hope you will enjoy our radio programmes, whether you listen to them online, via satellite, your local station, or shortwave. Stay tuned!

So this coming week on:

*** The State We're In ***

Dancing in Auschwitz: Adolek Kohn survived Auschwitz. More than 60 years later, he went back. But this time he went with his daughter and three grandchildren. And they danced. To the disco song 'I Will Survive'. It caused a storm of protest, but also inspired a lot of support. Adolek and his daughter Jane tell Jonathan why they did it and how important dancing has been in their lives.
Wrongfully convicted: Barry Gibbs was sentenced to 20 years in jail for a murder he didn't commit. He was framed by a cop who was on the Mafia's payroll. But Barry worked daily to get himself free and finally, 19 years into his 20 year sentence, he was released. Barry talks to Jonathan about life back then on the inside, and about life right now on the outside.
Sarajevo remembered: Amela Marin Simic survived the siege of Sarajevo. It's something she preferred not to talk about. But after Radovan Karadzic was put on trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, she decided to write an audio essay about a video clip that's haunted her since the Bosnian war - one that she's now been able to exorcise.
Coffin stealing: John Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya grew up stealing. He and his gang would cruise funeral services and steal the coffins so they could resell them. They finally got caught by the police who shot dead his gang members. John survived by hiding in the casket and then running into the crowd, scaring everyone.
The man who disappears people: Frank Ahearn used to be a "skip tracer", tracking down anyone, for anybody, as long as the client paid. After a while, he became disillusioned. He tells Jonathan how he now helps people in trouble "disappear" - often for free.

*** Earth Beat ***

Marnie Chesterton and her team look at the footprint we're leaving on our planet

We choose the best of our show from the past year. From life on Mars on Earth, to what it's like to wear the same thing every day for 7 years, listen to our most passionate and interesting guests to start off your new year.

*** Africa in Progress ***

We choose the best of our show from the past year. From life on Mars on Earth, to what it's like to wear the same thing every day for 7 years, listen to our most passionate and interesting guests to start off your new year.

***European Jazz Stage/World Music***

The lute plays an important role in the music from Greece and the Middle-East in today's programme. We begin today with percussionist: Cyro Baptista. He was born in Brazil's San Paulo, but moved to New York in 1980. He has recorded with many well-known names. After many years of touring with people like Herbie Hancock, Sting, Paul Simon, Snoop Dogg and Santana, he decided to form his own ensemble with percussion instruments from all over the world. "My music is like the Brazilian culture: we take in a thousand and one different influences, ... and make our own thing," Baptista said in an interview. We recorded him playing at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam in May 2010. Here is Cyro Baptista and his ensemble with Bird Boy."

*** Live! at the Concertgebouw ***

Monday:
Works by Mahler, Dvorak, Brahms and Richard Strauss. The concert is hosted by Hans Haffmans.

Tuesday:
Featuring Beethoven's Piano concerto no. 4 in G major, and four works on the theme of Orpheus by Von Gluck, Laman, Liszt and Stravinsky. Your host is Hans Haffmans.

*** Bridges with Africa***

Lively discussion and thought-provoking reports about and from the African continent

*** Commonwealth Story ***

Being Reasonable - by Sandeep Shete from India.
The end of a rough journey.
(Hilary Staples/Radio Netherlands)

Radio Netherlands English schedule

Effective to 27 March 2011
target areas: af (Africa) as (Asia) va (various target areas)
All times UTC

English
1000-1057 9720as 12065as
1400-1500 12080as 15595va
1500-1557 15595as
1800-1857 6020af 11655af
1900-1957 7425af 9895af 11615af 11655af
2000-2057 5935af 7425af 11655af
(R Netherlands/Leo van der Wounde)

Radio and TV Marti broadcasting Globovision's Alo Ciudadano

Globovision’s citizen call-in program about life in Venezuela, Alo Ciudadano (Hello Citizen), will now reach a Cuban audience via Radio and TV Martí. As part of expanded coverage of relevant international news, TV Martí began broadcasting Alo Ciudadano on27 December, and Radio Martí will soon air the programme.

“This interactive programme format showcases the compelling approach we are taking toward a 360-degree strategy in news and information,” said Carlos García-Pérez, director of Radio and TV Martí. “We believe our viewers and listeners will find this audience driven programming from Venezuela very relevant to their own experience.”

In a country where many newspapers and broadcast companies are closing down or scaling back, Alo Ciudadano remains one of the few broadcast forums for independent voices. In Alo Ciudadano citizens express their opinions and/or complaints live on the phone or via text messages, which appear on the news ticker.

The programme will be broadcast to Cuba via Radio and TV Martí, on Channel 13 (VHF), Channel 20 (UHF), AM and shortwave radio and will be available online at www.Martinoticias.com.
(Source: Broadcasting Board of Governors/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

WINB expanding shortwave schedule Jan 1

America’s oldest private international shortwave station WINB is expanding its schedule as of 1 January 2010 (USA date, not UTC date). It will be using a new frequency, 9405 kHz, from 0330-1130 UTC carrying the Christian programme Radio 2:11.

Radio 2:11 will QSL reception reports. They announce their address during the programme. WINB will also QSL reception reports of 9405 kHz with a special QSL card for those submitting sound recordings.
(Source: Hans Johnson, WINB/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio Slovakia to continue on shortwave via relay

A last-minute agreement between Radio Slovakia International and Radio Miami International (WRMI) will permit the international radio station of Slovakia to continue its shortwave transmissions in English and Spanish to the Caribbean and Latin America.

Radio Slovakia International had announced that its shortwave broadcasts would end on 31 December 2010. However, WRMI will be broadcasting RSI’s programme in English at 0130-0200 UTC Tuesday-Saturday and RSI’s Spanish programme at 0330-0400 UTC seven days per week. Both of these transmissions will be on 9955 kHz with 50 kW of power from Miami using a beam of 160 degrees directed to the Caribbean and Latin America.

“We are glad to be able to help Radio Slovakia International continue its shortwave transmissions to this part of the world,” said WRMI General Manager Jeff White. He added that listener reports will be appreciated and will be verified with a special WRMI QSL card commemorating the Radio Slovakia International relay. Reports may be sent to Radio Miami International, P.O. Box 526852, Miami, Florida 33152 USA, or by e-mail to info@wrmi.net (Source: WRMI)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2010 Dec 28 1925 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
20 - 26 December 2010

Solar activity was at very low to low levels throughout the period with no flares detected. A partial-halo CME departed the southwest quadrant early on 23 December associated with a filament eruption.

No Proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit remained at normal levels throughout the period.

Geomagnetic activity was at quiet to unsettled levels on 20 December with active to minor storm levels detected at high latitudes. Activity decreased to quiet levels during 21-26 December. The activity observed on 20 December was associated with a period of enhanced IMF Bt (peak 10nT at 20/0404 UTC) coupled with southward IMF Bz (maximum deflection -8 nT at 20/0758 UTC).

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
29 December - 24 January 2011

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a slight chance for C-class activity throughout the period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal levels between 29 December and 11 January. Flux levels are expected to increase to moderate to high levels from 12-13 January. Normal levels are expected for the remainder of the period.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be quiet to unsettled on 29 December, due to subsiding affects of the aforementioned CME, before decreasing to quiet levels and remaining through 1 January. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels 2-4 January due to HSS effects from a large coronal hole in the northeast quadrant of the disk. The field is expected to return to quiet from 5-19 January. With recurrent CH HSS effects expected, conditions are expected to be quiet to unsettled 20-21 January, before subsiding to mostly quiet levels for the remainder of the period.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2010 Dec 28 1925 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html

27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2010-12-28
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2010 Dec 29 90 5 2
2010 Dec 30 90 5 2
2010 Dec 31 90 5 2
2011 Jan 01 90 5 2
2011 Jan 02 88 5 2
2011 Jan 03 88 7 3
2011 Jan 04 88 7 3
2011 Jan 05 85 7 3
2011 Jan 06 85 7 3
2011 Jan 07 85 5 2
2011 Jan 08 88 5 2
2011 Jan 09 88 5 2
2011 Jan 10 88 5 2
2011 Jan 11 85 5 2
2011 Jan 12 85 5 2
2011 Jan 13 80 5 2
2011 Jan 14 80 5 2
2011 Jan 15 80 5 2
2011 Jan 16 78 5 2
2011 Jan 17 78 5 2
2011 Jan 18 78 5 2
2011 Jan 19 80 5 2
2011 Jan 20 80 7 3
2011 Jan 21 80 7 3
2011 Jan 22 80 5 2
2011 Jan 23 80 5 2
2011 Jan 24 80 5 2
(NOAA)

2010 Clandestine Activity Survey

PRESS RELEASE

2010 Clandestine Activity Survey

During the year 2010 the activity of political clandestine stations broadcasting on shortwave has remained almost unchanged from last year and is now at 1092 WBHs (Weekly Broadcasting Hours). This is an increase of just 4 WBHs or 0.3% from 12 months ago.

The activity of clandestine station broadcasting to target areas on the Asian continent has decreased by 1.9% to 730 WBHs. On the American continent the activity has increased by 8.6% to 214 WBHs and on the African continent activity has remained almost unchanged at 148 WBHs.

The most active target areas worldwide are North Korea with 274 WBHs (+22 when compared with last year), Cuba with 214 WBHs (+17) and China P.R. with 189 WBHs (-37).

The number of active target areas worldwide has increased from 17 to 20. The new target areas are Malaysia, Uganda and Djibouti.
(Mathias Kropf-D, WDXC-UK Dec 19
(BC-DX # 995/Top News via wb, Germany)

New shortwave station to commence December 29

thanks to contributor Alokesh Gupta, for the following news...

Starting December 29, 2010, a new radio station will start broadcasting on shortwave. It concerns Gunaz Radio, a new service from Gunaz TV.

Gunaz Radio will broadcast daily from 1430-1930 UTC on 7510 kHz in the 41 meter band.

For more information, visit www.gunaz.tv

RSI will continue daily programs on WRN

Radio Slovakia International has published the following message on its English website:

“We are very sorry to inform you that from January 1, 2011 Radio Slovakia International (RSI) will no longer broadcast on shortwave. The decision was made by the Government and the management of Slovak Radio in order to enable all sections of Radio Slovakia International to utilize modern technology and function effectively. This, however, doesn´t mean we will cancel our daily shows. From now on our broadcast will be available for you via satellite at www.wrn.org and via internet at www.rsi.sk. The good news is our website gets a fresh new design, which shall make it easier for you to access, browse and enjoy our programmes. Our team would like to sincerely thank everyone who’s been in touch with us via shortwave. We hope you will stay with Radio Slovakia International in the upcoming year and we will do our best to satisfy your thirst for information about Slovakia. We look forward to your constant feedback via email, online social networks and letters.”
(Source: Radio Slovakia International/Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio Slovakia International - multilingual services

Effective to: 01 January 2011

Time UTC Target Area Freq Azi

English
0100-0130 North America 6040 305
0100-0130 South and Central America 9440 245
0700-0730 South Asia and Australia 13715 75
0700-0730 South Asia and Oceania 15460 85
1730-1800 Western Europe 5915 275
1730-1800 Western Europe 6055 285
1930-2000 Western Europe 5915 275
1930-2000 Western Europe 7345 285

French
0200-0230 North America 6040 305
0200-0230 South and Central America 9440 245
1800-1830 Western Europe 5915 275
1800-1830 Western Europe 6055 285
2030-2100 Western Europe 5915 275
2030-2100 Western Europe 7345 285

German
0800-0830 Western Europe 5915 275
0800-0830 Western Europe 6055 305
1430-1500 Western Europe 6055 305
1430-1500 Western Europe 7345 285
1700-1730 Western Europe 5915 275
1700-1730 Western Europe 6010 285
1900-1930 Western Europe 5915 275
1900-1930 Western Europe 7345 285

Russian
1400-1430 Eastern Europe and Asia 9540 50
1400-1430 Eastern Europe and Asia 13625 65
1600-1630 Eastern Europe and Asia 6190 65
1600-1630 Eastern Europe and Asia 7240 50
1830-1900 Eastern Europe and Asia 5915 50
1830-1900 Eastern Europe and Asia 9485 65

Slovak
0130-0200 North America 6040 305
0130-0200 South and Central America 9440 245
0730-0800 South Asia and Australia 13715 75
0730-0800 South Asia and Oceania 15460 85
1630-1700 Western Europe 5915 275
1630-1700 Western Europe 6010 285
2000-2030 Western Europe 5915 275
2000-2030 Western Europe 7345 285

Spanish
0230-0300 South America 6080 265
0230-0300 South America 9440 245
1530-1600 Western Europe 9445 265
1530-1600 Western Europe 11600 245
2100-2130 Western Europe 9460 245
2100-2130 South America 11610 245
(BCL/via Alokesh Gupta)

Airmen Ready to Track Santa

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- On Christmas Eve, members of the 601st Air and Space Operations Center will track Santa on part of his journey to deliver toys to children around the world.

In conjunction with the North American Aerospace Defense Command's 'NORAD Track Santa' program, AOC volunteers will monitor jolly ol' Saint Nick as he makes stops across the globe.

"This Christmas Eve will mark the 55th consecutive year that the men and women of NORAD have tracked Santa," said Col. Randy Spear, 601st AOC commander. "Tracking Santa is part of our history, and (we're) proud to continue this tradition in 2010."

The tradition of tracking Santa started in 1955, when a call was made on Christmas Eve to the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., from a little girl asking to speak to Santa Claus.

A local newspaper published an advertisement inviting children to call Santa Claus but accidently printed the wrong number. Instead of getting Santa, the little girl spoke to Col. Harry Shoup, the senior officer on duty at the command center. Colonel Shoup received numerous calls that night, but rather than hanging up, he instructed all of his operators to find the location of Santa Claus and report it to every child who phoned in that night. Though Colonel Shoup died in March 2009 at the age of 91, his tradition of tracking Santa lives on.

When CONAD became NORAD in 1958, the tradition of tracking Santa transferred to the new command. NORAD is the bi-national military organization responsible for the aerospace and maritime defense of the United States and Canada.

"My family and I have volunteered and worked three years on the 'NORAD Tracks Santa' call-in line," said Maj. Jeff Pozen, 601st AOC judge advocate officer. "It was a great experience for us and it's awesome to be part of such a rewarding program."

Each year nearly 1,200 volunteers selflessly give their time to the NORAD Tracks Santa program by taking hundreds of thousands phone calls and email from families around the world. Santa trackers at the toll-free NORAD Tracks Santa hotline, 1-877-HI-NORAD, will begin answering phone calls and responding to email at 2 a.m. MST Dec. 24 and will continue until 3 a.m. MST Dec. 25.

"Along with the many volunteers at NORAD answering phone calls and email, we also have four high-tech systems to monitor Santa on his journey around the world Christmas Eve," Colonel Spear said. "As Santa enters continental U.S. airspace, he will be escorted by F-15 (Eagles) or F-16 (Fighting Falcons). During the rest of his journey we will track Santa through radar, satellites and Santa Cams."

As Santa departs the North Pole on Christmas Eve, NORAD operators monitor a radar system consisting of 47 installations strung across the northern border of North America that indicates his position. Once Santa is on radar, satellites with infrared sensors are used to detect Rudolph's glowing nose.

The last tracking system used by NORAD to track Santa is the Santa Cam network. High-speed digital cameras are placed throughout the world to capture images of Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. NORAD operators only use these cameras once a year.

Join the NORAD volunteers this holiday season as they track Santa around the world on Christmas Eve at the NORAD Tracks Santa website, http://www.noradsanta.org.

The NORAD Tracks Santa website features holiday games and activities that change daily and is available in seven languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Chinese. On Christmas Eve, the website will stream videos captured by NORAD "Santa Cams," and will have up-to-the-minute updates of Santa's location on Google Maps and Google Earth.

'Twas a Night in December

By Jian DeLeon, Ian Graham and Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON - Servicemembers stationed from Antarctica to Afghanistan lent their talents and time to craft a video for a poem titled "'Twas a Night in December," based on Clement Clarke Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas," but rewritten with a military twist.

More than 40 commands around the world, representing every branch of the military service, participated.

Along with the military people who contributed to this creative effort, country music star Toby Keith introduced the video, reinforcing his long-term support for military and their families stationed around the world.

Some of the servicemembers involved in this holiday greeting were located in the most remote regions in the world. For example, Air Force Capt. Graydon Muller of 6th Special Operations Squadron and Air Force Capt. Rob Marshall of the 8th Special Operations Squadron departed Nov. 24 to climb Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica. Muller and Massif took time away from their climb to speak a few lines for the video.

Other servicemembers from Afghanistan, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Pakistan and throughout the United States participated in making the video. In fact, people on six out of the world's seven continents took part. The video was produced by Defense Media Activity's emerging media directorate.

'Twas a Night in December

'Twas a night in December and all over the world,
At bases and stations where our flag flies unfurled,
The Holiday season had long since commenced,
And spread its spirit of cheer through the Department of Defense.

Combat boots sat at ease by the fence line with care,
In hopes that a return date soon would be there.

At home, loved ones slept sound in their beds,
With visions of troops coming home in their heads.
As Moms perform night patrols, and Dads conduct checks,
A long winter's nap is the last thing they expect.
When out on the tarmac arose such a clatter,
Soldiers and sailors sprang up to see what was the matter.

Away to the deck, they hustled, they dashed,
Some ran through a passageway, one opened a hatch.

In Antarctica, moonlight shimmered on the snow,
A sliver of light shown on the objects below.
And what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But letters and packages bundled with care.
Yet it wasn't just there that we saw these things land,
We received them as well, here in Afghanistan!
They were packaged so well that they could withstand,
The harsh desert winds full of Iraqi sand.
Onto Nicaragua with volcanoes and lakes,
Padded so carefully that nothing would break
Addressed from our family and friends we hold dear,
With Holiday greetings and a "Wish You Were Here!"
We lined up and claimed them, with smiles ear-to-ear,
Every person overcome with Holiday cheer.

Your support and your thoughts are the best possible gift,
We send you our thanks for giving our spirits such a lift.
Thanks from the National Guard
Thanks from the Army,
Thanks from the Navy,
Thanks from the Marines,
Thanks from the Air Force,
Thanks from the Coast Guard,
We want you to know how much this gift means.
In our eyes you're super, and we mean A-OK.

We will do our duty and keep defending our freedom,
And wish you and yours the very best this Holiday season!

Radio Netherlands Program Preview, Dec.25-31

Welcome to our weekly guide to Radio Netherlands Worldwide's English Service - a list of the new programmes coming up on Radio Netherlands Worldwide this coming week, beginning on Saturday.

We hope you will enjoy our radio programmes, whether you listen to them online,via satellite, your local station, or shortwave. Stay tuned!

So this coming week on:

*** The State We're In ***

A Christmas special
A Bosnian Christmas Carol: Jonathan recalls the time he went to his wife's hometown in Bosnia for a brandy-soaked and exhausting - but ultimately poignant - Orthodox Christmas ritual. The visit is even more cherished now as one of the family members he recorded passed away recently.
Black Peter: In Holland, Santa's helpers are called Zwarte Pieten, or Black Peter. They're white people in black face, wearing black, curly haired wigs. RNW's Davion Ford is African-American and even though he loves both Christmas and living in the Netherlands, he can't help but look on the tradition with a mix of outrage and humour.
Dixie mix: Daniel Gonzales is a lapsed Catholic from El Salvador. His wife, Lisa Greenman is an observant Jew from Illinois. They've relocated to a small town in Alabama whose population is overwhelmingly Bible Belt Christian. It's been a huge adjustment - on all sides, but it's working out fine.

*** Earth Beat ***

Marnie Chesterton and her team look at the footprint we're leaving on our planet

Our producers pick their favourite pieces from 2010. From living a silent life and dissecting a burger, to making one's own toaster and a husband and wife having it out over eco-differences, we revisit what we liked best about Earth Beat.

*** Africa in Progress ***

The young brain behind African Union
Peter Wangulu was a first year university student when he heard one African president calling on the youth to take up the spirit of pan Africanism. He wrote a letter with seven objectives for forming one body of Africa states. His letter was positively received, and 32 African leaders gathered to form the OAU, now the African Union. Decades later, an OAU flag still adorns his house in Uganda. In this interview, he explains what inspired him and how he looks at Africa today.

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh
perspective on events and life in Europe.

This week:
* A feast of festive figures - why Slovenians believe three Father Christmases are better than one.
* White witch - Italy's La Befana celebrations leave blokes out in the cold.
* The ghost of Christmas past - Ukrainians get all nostalgic for old traditions.
* Pass the eyeball - the Norwegian holiday feast with a difference.

*** Network Europe Extra ***

Arts and Culture brought to you each Sunday from Europe's widest partnership
of international broadcasters.

Our best stories from 2010
* Demolition derby - the race to save Moscow's architectural gems.
* Young gypsy guitarists keep the spirit of Django Reinhardt alive 50 years after his death.
* Penguin pride: gay cartoon penguins Gus and Waldo have their flippers on the pulse.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1530 South Asia 11835, 15745

***European Jazz Stage/World Music***

The performances of Monajat Yultchieva from Uzbekistan and Savina Yannatou from Greece, two singers with a unique sound, are characterised by their incredible intensity and expression.

The diva of classical Uzbek singing, Monajat Yultchieva beautifully decorates her compelling, story-telling songs about love for the divine. A rare voice with a huge range which sounds like a dove gliding on a spring breeze.

The voice of Savina Yannatou from Greece is just as fascinating. Her repertoire of classical and folk music includes medieval and baroque music as well as modern improvised songs permeated with folk, jazz and Arabian influences. Savina Yannatou performs songs from the Mediterranean culture, from the regions around the Mediterranean Sea. She sings her songs with great passion and conviction, accompanied by her ensemble Primavera en Salonico. An enchantingly beautiful voice which touches you right in the heart.

*** Live! at the Concertgebouw ***

Monday:
Music by Messiaen, Dvorak, Roussel and Honegger performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Theo Wolters. Soloists are J.Y Thibaudet (piano) and Cynthia Millar (ondes martinot). Your hosts are Hans Haffmans and Bart Visman.

Tuesday:
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is conducted by Jan Willem de Vriend, in a programme filled with 18th-century works. Alongside Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks, there is a Mozart piano concerto, followed by Haydn's Cello Concerto. Your host, as usual, is Hans Haffmans.

*** Bridges with Africa***

Lively discussion and thought-provoking reports about and from the African
continent

*** Commonwealth Story ***

'Thembi's Bicycle' - by Rachel Tucker from South Africa.
A grandmother's rambling dreams.
(Hilary Staples/Radio Netherlands)

Radio Netherlands - B10 English schedule

Effective to: 27 March 2011

broadcast daily unless otherwise indicated
target areas: af (Africa) am (Americas) as (Asia) va (various areas)

All times UTC

English
1000-1057 9720as 12065as
1400-1500 12080as 15595va
1500-1557 15595as
1800-1857 6020af 11655af
1900-1957 7425af 9895af 11615af 11655af
2000-2057 5935af 7425af 11655af
(R Netherlands/Leo van der Wounde)

Christmas programming from across the globe

A quick reminder to our blog readers of the Doghouse Charlie website. For the latest in Christmas programming check out Fred Waterer's website. Fred is our Programming Matters columnist in Monitoring Times, and his website is a great place to begin your programming listening. For details, go to http://doghousecharlie.com/christmas-and-seasonal-programming-2010-11/

Media Network Plus on December 25

The next edition of Media Network Plus will have it's first transmission December 25 at 0200UTC. www.pcjmedia.com

The items are:
1. Media and press freedom in Ukraine.
2. A listen to the lighter side of broadcasting with some radio bloopers from 2010 and some classic BBC Radio bloopers. Including an edition of Headline Edition with Taylor Grant on ABC Radio where none of the live reports worked. Two classic radio interviews where things didn't go as planned from CBC Radio's As It Happens with Barbara Frum, Radio bloopers from China Radio International's CRI News & Reports. A couple of radio anecdotes told by Stuart Parkins and Bob Zanotti.

Also we will be announcing a new contest.
(Keith Perron)

Christmas music on PCJ Radio

and this in from Keith Perron

From December 24th at 1500UTC until December 26th at 0600UTC PCJ Radio will present a selection of Christmas music for the holiday season. You will be able to enjoy a selection of traditional and un-traditional Christmas classics.
To listen you can either log onto http://www.pcjmedia.com/ or tune in on FM,MV and SW VIA by any one of our partner stations.

Live streaming for Pope's Christmas mass

Pope Benedict XVI’s traditional Christmas Eve mass will be streamed live on the Internet in six languages and available on iPhones around the world, the Vatican said today. The Italian-language mass will be translated into English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. The pope’s “Urbi et Orbi” blessing on 25 December and the New Year’s Day mass will also be available, the Vatican added in a statement. There will also be a commentary in Chinese for the Christmas Eve mass and in Arabic for the New Year’s Day mass.

The streaming service will be available on www.pope2you.net, www.pccs.va and www.vaticanradio.org and “allows anyone, anywhere in the world to follow the celebrations and guarantees fast connections,” the statement said. Pope Benedict has emphasised the importance of social media communications during his pontificate, which began in 2005. The Vatican now has its own YouTube channel, a Facebook application called Pope2You and regular podcasts.
(Source: AFP/Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

BBC local radio holiday specials

Paul Rowley has a new documentary airing on BBC local radio over the holiday period on the 1970 election and the influence of RNI/Caroline.

At the moment it's being aired on BBC Radios Cambridgeshire, Coventry and Warwickshire, Cumbria, Merseyside and Three Counties, may also run on Radios Manchester, Sheffield, Essex, Jersey and Berkshire.

Full details at:
http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/rowley.htm
(Source: Mike Barralough, UK/worlddexclub)

Blog Logs

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on / sign-off*

Algeria
6297.200 even ! RASD Tindouf west Saharan morning program, monotonous sound male singer, with children choir in background at 0725 UT Dec 21, S=5-7 fade.(wb, Germany/HCDX)

Australia
2325, VL8T Tennant Creek, 1002, English. Announcer with music related banter. Pop music including REM, "End of the World...." Signal weak and fairly clear. (Scott Barbour-NH)

Bolivia
6134.80, Radio Santa Cruz, 1015-1030. Just a weak signal with a male in steady Spanish language comments. Conditions are poor this morning on all bands. At 1021 a female joins the male in comments. As noted, the signal was weak and poor. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Chad
6165, RNT, *0426-0510. Sign on with Balafon interval signal. National anthem at 0429. Opening French announcements at 0430. Local Afro-pop music at 0431. French talk. In the clear after Radio Netherlands signs off at 0427. Weak but readable. (Brian Alexander, PA)

China
4940, Voice of Strait, 1530. Start of the Sunday only program in English, Focus on China. Faintly heard ID ("this is the Voice of Strait, Fuzhou, China"). Far underneath a much stronger AIR Guwahati (AIR news in English). Mostly unusable, checked at 1556 to hear Chinese, so today was just a 25 minute program. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

6125, CNR1, 1311-1340. In English and Chinese with special live coverage from the stadium in Guangzhou of the opening ceremony of the Asian Para Games. Signal good. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

4500, Xinjiang PBS Urumqi, 0042-0105. Listed as Mongolian. Male/female announcers with talk and brief music selections, including disco-era Bee Gees cover tune. Five pips at 0100 and woman announcer with a presumed ID. Right back to more male/female announcers. Signal poor to fair. Battling with utility interference. (Scott Barbour-NH)

Clandestine
7590, Radio Free Sarawak, *2230-2330.* Sign on with instrumental music and opening announcements. Talk in unidentified language. Mentions of Sarawak. Some US pop music. ID at 2328. Said “bye-bye” at 2330 sign off. Fair. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Costa Rica
5954.22, ELCOR - Radio Republica, 0930-0950. Extended schedule with Spanish talk. Fair level but poor overall reception due to adjacent channel splatter, but at least there is no jammer. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Croatia
6165.000 even! Croatian Radio Deanovec in Croatian language, S=8 signal at 0730 UT Dec 21. The engineer in Zagreb calibrated the tx frequency this morning.(wb, Germany/HCDX)

Cuba
RHC unusual weak this morning here in Europe on Dec 21. Like yesterday Dec 20 too. Strange, because Sackville and Bonaire are booming in as usual at same time span. (wb, Germany/HCDX)

6180, Radio Nacional de Venezuela, 1030-1045. Program of music and Spanish comments with live ID's by a male. Signal was good. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Dominican Republic
6025.09, Radio Amanecer Internacional, 0310-0320.* Spanish religious talk. Christian music. Off after religious tune. Poor with adjacent channel splatter. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Ethiopia
6110, Radio Fana, *0258-0335. Sign on with interval signal. Vernacular talk at 0300. Some instrumental music. Horn of Africa music. Weak. Poor. Mixing with BBC at their scheduled time of *0300-0330*. Radio Fana in the clear with a good signal after 0330. Very weak on // 7210. (Brian Alexander, PA)

9705, Radio Ethiopia, 2050-2100.* Horn of Africa music. Instrumental remakes of US pop music. Possible Amharic news at 2057. Sign off with national anthem at 2059. Signal noted as good. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Honduras
3250, Radio Luz y Vida San Luis, 1134-1145. English/Spanish. Male announcer with English religious talk. Woman announcer with Spanish translation. Signal fair. (Scott Barbour, NH)

India4880 All India Radio-Lucknow. Heard via long path at 0055 tune with Hindi vocal and instrumental music. Woman announcer heard at 0108.5, 0114.5. Woman announcer at 0115 with what sounded like news bcst. Signal faded into noise by 0124. Signal was a steady S2 with slight improvement after 0105. Heavy QSB, typical of LP reception. Lucknow is rare here on the long path.(Bruce Churchill, CA/Cumbre DX)

Indonesia
9525.96, Voice of Indonesia,*0950-1015. Abrupt sign on with listed Korean programming. Religious music.English at 1000 with opening ID announcements. English news at 1001. Weak but readable. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Madagascar
5010, Radio Madagasikara (Ambohidrano), 0234-0245. Malagasy. Talk by man. Pop music at 0235, more European than African. A couple of rooster sounds at 0239, then lively local pops. At 0243, man and woman with multiple IDs and talk with off and on Jingle Bells in the background. Drums at 0245 followed by ID and talk by man. Good to very good signal with moderate fading. (Jim Evans, TN)

Mauritania
7245.00 MRT with poor fade S=4-6 moving the needle, male voice announcer in vernacular, French and Arabic accent mixed sound, at 0751 UT Dec 21. Lute instrument jingle played.(wb, Germany/HCDX)

Niger
9704.99, LV du Sahel, 2100-2258.* Audible after Radio Ethiopia signed off with French talk. Afro-pop, Euro-pop music. Qur`an at approximately 2253. Sign off with flute interval signal, followed by national anthem at 2256. Fair. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Nigeria
15120, Voice of Nigeria (Ikorodu), 0547-0605. English. Man and woman talking about financial planning followed by a story about a carnival. West African pop music at 0559. Drums at 0600 and news read by a man. Very strong signal with little fading, unusual for this time of night on 19 meters. Also noted other African transmitters on 15580 (VOA - Botswana), 15255 (Channel Africa - Meyerton), 15205 and 15275 (Deutsche Welle - Kigali), and 15190 (Radio Africa - Equatorial Guinea). Signal strengths were unusually strong for all. (Jim Evans, TN)

Pakistan
9340, Radio Pakistan Islamabad, 1705-1732. Listed as Urdu service. Male announcer with a presumed news. Talk between music bits at 1710 into Qu'ran recitations at 1712. Continuos thru time out except for brief talk at 1721. Signal strong, booming signal, nothing noted on //7530, 1857 recheck. Male/female announcers, different male announcer with sign-off announcement. National anthem interrupted by co-channel Raido Farda via Irana Wila, Sri Lanka sign-on. (Scott Barbour, NH)

Peru
3329.58, Ondas Del Hualaga, 1030-1045. Male/female in Spanish with comments. Signal is very poor mixing with CHU's broadcast. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

4746.96, Radio Huanta 2000 Huanta, 1025-1033. Spanish. Male announcer with talk thru 1030. Signal fair, strongest here in quite some time. (Scott Barbour-NH)

4746.92, Radio Huanta 2000, 1040-1050. Signal just barely making it here. Noted some Spanish talk, but mainly music. Signal was threshold. (Chuck Bolland,FL)

6019.287, Radio Victoria, 1045-1055. Another very weak signal being covered with a het, noted a male (probably David M.) preaching in Spanish. At 1047 possibly music presented, but can't be sure? Signal was threshold. (Chuck Bolland, FL).

4824.453, La Voz de la Selva, 1100-1110. With a threshold signal here, noted a male in Spanish comments. (Chuck Bolland, FL).

Russia
5930, Radio Rossii Monchegorsk, 1049-1102. Russian. Woman announcer interviewing male. This is presumed ad/promo string from 1054 with several IDs thru-out. Bit of talk over Joe Satriani instrumental at 1059, 5+1 signal pips and ID at 1100. Different male announcer with news. Signal poor but readable with some 5935 - Mrs. DGS splash. (Scott Barbour-NH)

Saudi Arabia
15250, BSKSA Riyadh, 1203-1228.* English. Woman announcer with English news regarding Obama and Koreas, New Delhi talks, 1206 program Enviromental Issues on researching causes of beached whales, 1216 music program with intro "video killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles (that's the very first video aired on MTV, way back in 1982, for all you trivia buffs). Partial pop music selections. Never played an entire song, until pulled the plug at 1228. Signal fair and improving. (Scott Barbour, NH)

Uganda
7194.98, UBC, 0409-0515. Tune-in to English news. Radio-drama. English and vernacular talk. Afro-pop music.Christmas music. Some US pop music including Cyndi Lauper’s Girl's Just Want to Have Fun. Occasional chirping birds. Poor signal. Somewhat muffled audio. Some amateur radio interference. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Radio Netherlands offers contest to Facebook Fans

To celebrate [almost] 3,000 pals here on Facebook, we are giving away 3 prize packs containing:

an RNW T-shirt, RNW USB stick + RNW key ring.

All you have to do is send an email marked '3000' to letters@rnw.nl incl: your name/postal address, T-shirt size (S M L XL XXL) + the answers to 5 questions (closing date: 00.05 UTC Tuesday 28 December). The questions are listed below .

1)What rather Dutch mode of transport features in the main photo on this RNW web story?
http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/frantic-2018-holland-belgium-world-cup-bid-day

2)What is the name of the award-winning producer of South Asia Wired?
http://www.rnw.nl/english/radioprogramme/south-asia-wired

3)Which song won the first EH40 World Pop Contest?
http://www.rnw.nl/english/radioshow/2010-world-pop-contest-result

4)What is the name of RNW’s new website about sex and relationships?
http://www.lovematters.info/

5)Which animals have been benefitting from microfinance thanks to Ms Goodall?
http://www.rnw.nl/english/dossier/microfinance

Good Luck!
(Source: Yimber Gaviria, Colombia)

Hilversum Media Park given go-ahead to expand

The Media Park in Hilversum has been given planning permission expand by 170,000 square metres. Hilversum councillor Lon Jooren-van der Boor said yesterday it was a milestone for the media centre, and announced that in 2011 the sixtieth anniversary anniversary of Dutch television will be celebrated there.

The Media Park is home to a large number of broadcasters, production companies and the Dutch Institute for Sound and Vision. It currently employs over six thousand people, but that number will rise substantially with the expansion. Outdated buildings will make way for new ones. The expansion plan includes space for new amenities such as a hotel, restaurants and small retailers. Also, the area will become more attractive to the public visiting a recording or live production. In April a child care centre is due to open.

The plan is not without its critics. RTL Nederland has already indicated that it wants to move to Amsterdam. The other major commercial TV broadcaster in the Netherlands, SBS, is already based in Amsterdam. Some critics within the industry cite the continuing traffic problems around and within Hilversum, and say there needs to be investment in better road connections.
(Source: AD/Broadcast Magazine/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

BBC Broadcasting House redevelopment completed

Construction work on Broadcasting House has been completed and the building handed to the BBC by developer Land Securities and building contractor Bovis Lend Lease. Redeveloping Broadcasting House has enabled the BBC to make potential savings of over £172 million from the disposal of other BBC properties in London. News teams are expected to move in during 2012, allowing the corporation to close Bush House and Television Centre.

The building’s redevelopment is part of the BBC’s 2020 Property Vision, to re-shape the BBC estate at minimum cost. Broadcasting House is located at the north end of Regent Street in London’s West End. More than 5000 staff will work at the multimedia production and broadcast centre, providing television, radio and online services.

BBC chief operating officer Caroline Thomson said: “This world-class facility will deliver public service broadcasting to a global audience and provide an accessible, public space where broadcaster and audience can meet.”
(Source: propertyweek.com/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

A Voice Across the Atlantic - RCA & AT &T Rocky Point

Some time back, you will remember, we presented the story here in Wavescan, of the great wireless station that was located at Rocky Point on Long Island, New York. At the time, it surely was the world’s largest wireless station, and if it had been built to its intended potential, then it would have become a a majestic electronic wonder. This radio station was also in use at times for the relay of programming on behalf of the Voice of America.
It is not so well known however, that RCA Rocky Point was also in co-operation with another wireless organization, AT&T, for communication across the Atlantic. This is what happened.
Back during the year 1922, AT&T began experimenting with an attempt to bridge the Atlantic Ocean with a wireless signal. These experiments were underway at the early AT&T facility located at Deal Beach in New Jersey and the test communications were conducted on longwave channels. These wireless tests with a comparatively low powered transmitter were quite successful and it was demonstrated that a reliable communication service could be established between the United States and England.
The project was then moved from the AT&T facility at Deal Beach New Jersey to RCA Rocky Point on Long Island. AT&T rented from RCA the space for the longwave transmitter and the associated antenna systems. A huge 200 kW Alexanderson alternator was installed at Rocky Point and test transmissions in Morse Code commenced in March 1926.
A little less than a year later, on January 27, 1927, the new trans-Atlantic communication service was opened from Rocky Point under the callsign WNL using the longwave channels 56.5 & 58.5 kHz. The receiver station in Great Britain was located at Cupar in Scotland, and the return service to North America was rendered by transmitter GBR, the huge Post office station located at Rugby.
Surprisingly, this longwave communication service between the United States and England was in use for nearly half a century and it was not closed down until the year 1970.
The receiver station for AT&T Rocky Point was located at Houlton in Maine, quite close to the Canadian border in New Brunswick, and in more recent time this location was in use by AT&T as a Telstar satellite receiver station.
Thus, the American terminal for the first trans-Atlantic communication service was indeed located at Rocky Point Long Island, but it was an AT&T unit located in an RCA facility.
(AWR Wavescan/ NWS95 via Adrian Peterson)

On the Air and Off the in Sweden - Part 2

In our program today, we continue on from where we left off two weeks ago in the story of shortwave broadcasting in Sweden. As you will remember, this topic was suggested by Claes Englund in Sweden and Bruce White in Australia.
After things settled down in Europe in the middle of last century, Sweden placed an order with the Marconi company in England for the purchase of two shortwave transmitters at 100 kW each. These two units were installed at the already existing radio station located at Horby which had been erected in 1928, and they were inaugurated in 1952.
Some 20 years later, two high powered shortwave transmitters rated at 500 kW each were installed at Horby. However, due to coronal arcing in the antenna system during foggy weather, the power level of these units was reduced to 350 kW.
At the same time as the shortwave facilities at Horby were increased, a similar project at Karlsborg took place. This station was originally established back in 1918 as a spark wireless communication facility. A 500 kW transmitter was installed in the 1970s, and the output of this unit was also reduced to 350 kW due to the coronal arcing problem in the antenna systems.
As we are aware, Sweden closed down its two shortwave stations, Horby & Karlsborg, and the one remaining mediumwave station at Solvesborg, at the end of October. Nationwide coverage on radio in Sweden is now obtained with several networks of FM stations totaling anywhere up to 2,000 transmitters.
Over the years, there have been two additional radio stations of interest in Sweden. A large communication station known as Goteborg Radio traces its earliest origins back to the year 1905. This station was progressively located at four different sites over the years, and it has been well known under the callsigns SAG & SAB.
The other interesting station is the old spark wireless station at Grimeton which was inaugurated in the 1920s by King Gustav 5. The old long wave Alexanderson alternator is still functional, and it is placed on the air once each year under the callsign SAQ.
Radio Sweden was a prolific verifier of reception reports and we are aware of at least 50 different designs for their QSL cards. Likewise, many QSL cards have been issued for the old longwave transmitter SAQ, and for Goteborg Radio SAG & SAB.
We should also remember the long running DX program from Radio Sweden, “Sweden Calling DXers”. The script for this program began with Arne Skoog in 1948, the program was taken over by the American George Wood in 1978, the name was changed to MediaScan a few years later, and the program ended in 2001.
This then, is the story of shortwave broadcasting in Sweden, running from 1938 - 2010.
(AWR Wavescan/NSW95 via Adrian Peterson)

Blog Logs

Special thanks to Harold Sellers of ODXA, for sharing the following loggings. Look for more logs soon before we take a brief break for Christmas.

Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia
Listening mobile in the pre-dawn hours with an Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna.

All times UTC

2325 AUSTRALIA. ABC Northern Territory, Tennant Creek, 1401 Dec 21, with movie review. Poor, //2310 poor, 2485 very poor. (Sellers-BC)

2368.5 AUSTRALIA. Radio Symban, 1357 Dec 21. Music, speaker at 1400. Too weak to understand anything or to even confirm language. Very poor. (Sellers-BC)

4910 INDIA. AIR, Jaipur, 1533 Dec 21, with same English news as 4920 and 5010. Very weak. (Sellers-BC)

4920 INDIA. AIR, Chennai, 1532 Dec 21, with English news from New Delhi, 1539 ID. Fair. (Sellers-BC)

5010 INDIA. AIR, Thiruvananthapuram, 1530 Dec 21, woman with news in English. Poor. (Sellers-BC)

5030 MALAYSIA. RTM Sarawak, 1522 Dec 21, Celine Dion song, song in Malay, 1529 man in Malay. Poor. (Sellers-BC)

6115 RUSSIA. Trans World Radio via Samara, 1505 Dec 21, in Urdu, Pakistani vocals, then man with religious talk. Good. (Sellers-BC)

9690 INDIA. All India Radio, 1434 Dec 21, in English with a commentary, 1440 into Indian music. Poor. (Sellers-BC)

9915 CYPRUS. BBC, 1422 Dec 21, “Outlook” reporting on a beauty pageant for children in the USA, 1429 ID. Poor. (Sellers-BC)

pirate radio logs

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on/ sign-off*

Ann Hoffer
6925USB, 2212-2217:21.* Ann strumming and singing folk tunes. Off abruptly w/"73-73". SIO=3+53+, would have been O=4 except audio was a tad muted. ID per FRN post, none heard. (Frodge-MI)

Captain Ron Shortwave
6900 USB, 0035-0106. SINPO 22433
caught a Capt Ron ID at 0040, listing a bunch of other shortwave pirates. Very noisy. California Uber Alles. Signal improved by 0100 (Ragnar)

Captain Morgan Shortwave
6925AM 0213-0250.* Vintage music program with male announcer in English providing two IDs note and gmail address at 0232 and 0250 closing. Poor to fair signal. (Rich D’Angelo/FCDX-PA)

Hunk a Junk Radio
6925USB, 2221, SIO 333. Some interference from the pesques, FDR speech about the Japanese in WWII. Station ID at 2221, Mighty Mouse theme, Mr. Ed theme. Signoff at 2225 (Fansome, PA)

Liquid Radio
6925AM, 0013-0022. Signal weak and poor. Dance music and just managed to hear the ID as liquidradio.com. At 0022, lost the signal due to another station. The mutual interference rendered both stations unintelligible. (Majewski CT)

MAC Shortwave
3275.9AM, 0146-0157.+ "M-A-C, the station that Paul Starr never listens to." Elvis and the Beatles to Ultraman Show spot into Obama interview. Apparently same show as previous night. SIO 454. (Frodge-MI)

Radio Chaucer (via WBNY Relay Service)
6898AM, 1838-1854* Lots of IDs from a female announcer saying: "you have been listening to Radio Chaucer." Eclectic collections of unrelated stuff that I identified in my log book as "stuff." A rendition of Twist and Shout, which was rather Calypso. Talk in French, Germna nd maybe Italian. Something about "boiling hot coffee" and chatter from a man whose "girlfriend sent me to prison." (Heard on my FRG-7700, so the real frequency could be anything. Some fading, but mostly SIO 353. (Hunsicker, PA)

Radio Casablanca
6940AM, 1505 1645.* Thirties music and many sound clips from the movie. Also Roosevelt's post Pearl Harbor broadcast to nation. (353, Hunsicker, PA)

Radio Ronin Shortwave
6924.60AM, 2309-2330. Caught the last part of their e-mail address @gmail.com, then into a program of songs done by female singers, such as Janis Joplin, Carly Simon, Join Mitchell, California Dreaming by the Mama's and Papa's ( which RRS confirmed that it was one of songs from this e-mail address radioroninshortwave@gmail.com, after posting on the FRN Website )
and Blue Bayou by Linda Ronstadt. Signal held up pretty good but by 2328 was losing ground and lost the signal pretty much by 2330 fade-out. RRS e-mailed me requesting my address for a hard copy QSL...many thanks to RRS for this special broadcast and the QSL Reply..do appreciate this !!.. (SIO-4/3,5,4/3- Edward Kusalik-ALB)

The Voice of the Testrato (?) (Via WBNY Relay Service)
6898AM, 1903-1910.* "To save your voice, remove your testicles immediately." Alternating classical music and singing by a female, alto or, perhaps, a member of the Vienna boys choir. (Heard on my FRG-7700, so the real frequency could be anything. SIO 454. (Hunsicker, PA)

WEAK Radio
6925USB, 2110-2126. Rhythmic thumping music I couldn't identify, fairly clear WEAK Radio ID at closing. Ended just as gray line propagation was beginning to improve. (Jenkins TX)

QSLs
Lex Jenkins got one from The Timekeeper at Current Time Radio, QSL #1 for online logs in 2009 (FRN and HFU). Two full data signed QSL sheets with photo of scene from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest; a signed digital atomic wall clock!; a holiday assortment of pogey bait - beer glass, stickers, lots of Juicy Fruit gum!

Ron Hunsicker got two: First is a well-documented e-mail QSL from Germ Radio for their broadcast on 3 December 2010. The text was printed over a grainy photograph of protoplasm that disappointed the voyeur in me because no cells were dividing. The second is a letter from Commander Bunny that included 1) a full data, post card WBNY Relay QSL for a broadcast of Radio Chaucer on 27 November, 2) a full-data, large card WBNY Relay QSL for a broadcast of the Voice of Testrato on 27 November, 3) a Commander Bunny 2012 Presidential Platform pamphlet, 4) a Commander Bunny for President oval sticker, and 5) a Commander Bunny 2011 calendar refrigerator magnet, which is now on my refrigerator holding a note buy cases of Black &, Tan and Blue Moon.
(FRW 773/774/775)

DX Mix News Extra

A few more frequency adjustments have just been released to close out your year-end DXing. Special thanks to Ivo Ivanov.

Germany (non)
Frequency change of BVBN R.Sadaye Zindagi in Dari from Dec.21
1600-1630 new freq 9445 WER 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs, ex 11830, re-ex 11955/11895

Germany (non)
Frequency change of Deutsche Welle in Hausa from Dec.24:
1300-1400 new freq 15260 KIG 250 kW / 310 deg to WeAf, ex 15275 to avoid DWL Dari

Germany (non)
Additional frequency of Deutsche Welle in Dari from Dec.8:
1330-1400 on 15275 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg to WeAs // 12065 TRM and 17860 RMP

Germany (non)
Radio Reveil Paroles de Vie in French, last transmision on Dec.30:
1830-1845 on 9760 ISS 100 kW / 142 deg to CeAf Tue/Thu, cancelled from Jan.4

Madagascar (non)
Voice of People in English/Shona/Ndebele from Dec.10:
0400-0500 on 11610 MDC 050 kW / 265 deg to ZWE
1530-1630 on 11695 MDC 050 kW / 265 deg to ZWE, cancelled
1800-1900 on 9345 MDC 050 kW / 265 deg to ZWE, new, co-ch R.Bilal till 1830

U.K.(non)
Frequency changes of WYFR Family Radio in English via BABCOCK:
1500-1600 new freq 9895 DHA 250 kW / 105 deg to SoAs, ex 9495 to avoid TWR Russian
1500-1600 new freq 11995 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg to SoAs, ex 12015 to avoid RFI Swahili

U.K.(non)
Tests transmissions of HRT Voice of Croatia in Croatian/English/Spanish via BABCOCK
0100-0300 on 6110 WOF 125 kW / 294 deg to NWAm Mon-Wed
0300-0400 on 5925 RMP 250 kW / 300 deg to NWAm Mon-Wed
0400-0500 on 5920 RMP 250 kW / 300 deg to NWAm Mon-Wed
(DX Mix News Extra)

Radio Prague will verify Internet broadcast

With the recent announcement that Radio Prague will cease shortwave on December 31, 2010, the following announcement has been released by Radio Prague.
Gayle

According to Radio Prague’s Mailbox program of 19 December: “Some of our listeners might be wondering what will happen with reception reports and QSL cards after Radio Prague goes off the air [on shortwave]. After February 1st, Radio Prague will still verify your reception over the internet. There is a new set of cards featuring Bohemian and Moravian castles which will soon appear on our website.”
(Source: Radio Prague/Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Shortwave schedule updates

This week we've seen three issues of DX Mix News released involving a number of frequency changes. The following schedule updates, reflect the last issue for the year. My special thanks to the contributors that have provided the newsletters throughout the year. Our blog readers and Monitoring Times readers appreciate your assistance.
Gayle Van Horn, Frequency Manager-Monitoring Times

All times UTC

Germany
Some MBR changes:
WYFR Family Radio from Dec 6 / 9:
1900-2200 new freq 9925 WER 500 kW 180 deg to WeCeAF in English, x9480
1800-2000 new freq 12140 WER 500 kW 165 deg to SoAF in Solano/Zulu, x11820

Bible Voice Broadcasting Network (Radio Sadaye Zindagi) from Dec 13:
1600-1630 11830!WER 250 kW 090 deg to WeAS in Dari,x11955*, re-11895
! co-ch BBC in English
* to avoid BBC in Uzbek
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 17)

Guam
Frequency change of KTWR Agana in Vietnamese from Dec 19:
1100-1130 new freq 11750 TWR 100 kW 285 deg to SoEaAS, x11840
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 17)

Palau/ Malaysia (Clandestine)
Frequency change of Radio Free Sarawak in Bahasa Malay:
1000-1100 NF 15420 HBN 100 kW 270 deg to SoEaAS, x15680

Palau / Australia
Radio Australia in Burmese again via T8HN Angel 4:
0100-0130 new freq 17585 HBN 100 kW 270 deg to SoEaAS, x11780 SNG
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 17)

Philippines
HRT Voice of Croatia in Croatian / English now air:
0700-1100 17860 PHT 250 kW 150 deg to AUS, exSNG 100 kW 135 deg
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 17)

Rwanda
Additional frequency of Deutsche Welle in Dari from Dec 8:
1330-1400 15275 KIG 250 kW ??? deg to WeAs, co-ch DW Hausa also KIG!!!
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 17)

Uzbekistan (Clandestine)
Frequency change of Radio Free Chosun in Korean:
1500-1600 new freq 5760 TAC 100 kW 065 deg to NoKOR, x6225, re-ex7530
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 17)
(DX Mix News # 657 via Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria & Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany)

Radio Pakistan updates winter schedule

Radio Pakistan B10 schedule

Effective to: 26 March 2011

All times UTC

Bangla
0900-1000 9345 ISL 100 kW 118 deg to SoAS
11570vISL 100 kW 118 deg to SoAS

Chinese
1200-1300 9670 ISL 250 kW 070 deg to EaAS
11510 ISL 250 kW 070 deg to EaAS

English
1100-1110 15100 ISL 250 kW 313 deg to WeEUR
17700 ISL 250 kW 313 deg to WeEUR
1600-1610 7510 ISL 250 kW 282 deg to NE/ME
11575 ISL 250 kW 282 deg to NE/ME

Gujarati
1145-1215 9345 ISL 100 kW 147 deg to SoAS
11570vISL 100 kW 147 deg to SoAS

Hindi
1045-1145 9345 ISL 100 kW 147 deg to SoAS
11570vISL 100 kW 147 deg to SoAS

Nepali
1000-1030 9345 ISL 100 kW 118 deg to SoAS
11570vISL 100 kW 118 deg to SoAS

Pashto/Dari
1345-1545 6235vISL 100 kW 270 deg to WeAS

Persian
1700-1800 6235vISL 100 kW 260 deg to WeAS
7470 ISL 100 kW 260 deg to WeAS

Sinhala/Tamil
1230-1330 11880 ISL 100 kW 147 deg to SoAS
15540vISL 100 kW 147 deg to SoAS

Urdu
0045-0215 11580 ISL 250 kW 118 deg to SoAS
15490 ISL 250 kW 118 deg to SoAS
0500-0700 15100 ISL 250 kW 282 deg to NE/ME
17830 ISL 250 kW 282 deg to NE/ME
0830-1100 15100 ISL 250 kW 313 deg to WeEUR
17700 ISL 250 kW 313 deg to WeEUR
1330-1530 7530 ISL 250 kW 282 deg to NE/ME
11575 ISL 250 kW 282 deg to NE/ME
1700-1900 7530 ISL 250 kW 313 deg to WeEUR
9340 ISL 250 kW 313 deg to WeEUR
v=xxxxx.4 kHz
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 17)
(DX Mix News # 657 via Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria & Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany)

Updated Radio Cairo B10 schedule

Egypt

Radio Cairo

Effective to: 26 March 2011

All times UTC

0400-0600 9745 ABZ 100 kW 170 deg to CeEaAF in Swahili, new, alt 11740 0700-1100 17510 ABZ 100 kW 250 deg to WeAF in Arabic"General Service" 1015-1215 15060 ABZ 250 kW 090 deg to WeAS in Arabic
1215-1330 17870 ABZ 250 kW 090 deg to SoAS in English
1230-1400 15710 ABS 250 kW 106 deg to SoEaAS in Indonesian
1300-1400 15065 ABZ 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS in Dari
1300-1600 15080 ABS 250 kW 241 deg to WeAF in Arabic
1330-1530 15040 ABZ 100 kW 070 deg to WeAS in Farsi
1400-1600 15065 ABZ 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS in Pashto
1500-1600 15780 ABZ 250 kW 050 deg to CeAS in Uzbek
1500-1600 13580 ABZ 250 kW 330 deg to EaEUR in Albanian
1530-1730 17810 ABZ 250 kW 170 deg to CeEaAF in Swahili
1600-1700 15285 ABZ 100 kW 160 deg to EaCeAF in Afar
1600-1800 6270 ABZ 250 kW 090 deg to SoAS in Urdu
1600-1800 12170 ABZ 150 kW 195 deg to CeSoAF in English
1700-1900 9280 ABS 250 kW 005 deg to NE/ME in Turkish
1700-2300 9250 ABZ 250 kW 180 deg to EaAF in Arabic "Radio Waadi e Nile"
1700-1730 15285 ABZ 100 kW 160 deg to EaCeAF in Somali
1730-1900 15285 ABZ 100 kW 160 deg to EaCeAF in Amharic
1800-1900 6270 ABZ 250 kW 315 deg to WeEUR in Italian
1800-2100 9990 ABS 250 kW 241 deg to WeAF in Hausa
1845-2000 9940 ABZ 250 kW 245 deg to WeAF in Fulfulde, new, alt 11555
1900-2000 6270 ABZ 250 kW 315 deg to WeEUR in German
1900-2000 9280 ABS 250 kW 005 deg to EaEUR in Russian
1900-2030 11510 ABZ 250 kW 250 deg to WeAF in English
1900-2400 9305 ABS 250 kW 315 deg to WeEUR in Arabic"General Service"
1900-0030 9295 ABZ 100 kW 160 deg to EaCeAF in Arabic"Radio Voice of Arabs"
2000-2115 6270 ABZ 250 kW 315 deg to WeEUR in French
2000-2200 6860 ABZ 250 kW 110 deg to AUS in Arabic
2030-2230 9280 ABS 250 kW 241 deg to WeAF in French
2115-2245 6270 ABZ 250 kW 315 deg to WeEUR in English
2215-2330 9900 ABZ 250 kW 245 deg to SoAM in Portuguese
2300-0030 11590 ABZ 250 kW 330 deg to NoWeAM in English
2330-0045 9250 ABS 250 kW 241 deg to SoAM in Arabic
2330-0045 9900 ABZ 250 kW 245 deg to SoAM in Arabic
0000-0700 9305 ABS 250 kW 315 deg to NoAM in Arabic"General Service"
0030-0430 11590 ABZ 250 kW 330 deg to NoWeAM in Arabic
0045-0200 6270 ABZ 250 kW 315 deg to NoEaAM in Spanish
0045-0200 9900 ABZ 250 kW 245 deg to SoAM in Spanish
0045-0200 9915 ABS 250 kW 282 deg to CeAM in Spanish
0200-0330 6270 ABZ 250 kW 315 deg to NoAM in English
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 17)
(DX Mix News 657 via Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria & Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany)

Radio Netherlands Program Preview Dec. 19-24

This week I received a slightly appreviated version of the Radio Netherlands Program Preview. Included at the end, is their current English frequency schedule to assist your listening. This English version, as well as all language services, are included in the electronic version of Monitoring Times, MT ExPress.
Gayle Van Horn, MT Frequency Manager

Radio Netherlands

Sunday Dec. 19

Network Europe Extra
Arts and Culture brought to you each Sunday from Europe's widest partnership of international broadcasters.

On the next Network Europe Extra:
• Former French porn star Ovidie on the sexual liberation of French women
• Cuba Libre: We hear from a Czech DJ who headed south
• A novel turn: A Nobel Prize-winning author’s book is turned into a rock opera in Poland
• Sculptor, race car driver, dentist: we hear from UK Renaissance man Neil Lawson-Baker

Monday Dec. 20

Hear the World
Djivan Gasparyan from Armenia is the grand master of the duduk, the Armenian oboe made from apricot wood. At the Music Meeting in Nijmegen, he played tranquil and melancholic folk melodies with his duduk quartet. The Stevens church in the city of Nijmegen provided an ideal acoustic space to catch the Armenian soul in the enchanting delecate sounds of the duduk.

The Black Sea Orchestra consists of musicians representing musical traditions from eight countries on the Black Sea: Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Russia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Romania and Georgia. Every member of the group contributes a composition from his or her own tradition to the Music Meeting while the other members respond with spontaneous improvisation.

Hosted by Dheera Sujan. Produced by RNW Music.

Network Europe
A collaboration by Europe’s leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Live! at the Concertgebouw - 2008
(primary program)

Recorded live at Amsterdam's world famous music stage, the Concertgebouw, this week's edition offers you another chance to listen to Holland’s foremost musicians in classical works from around the world.

The State We're In (Midweek Edition)
“The art of smuggling”

The war on smuggling: Matthew Bogdanos is both a Reservist in the US Marines, and a lawyer. He was in Iraq when the looting of the national museum began, and moved quickly to recover its treasures. He’s worked across several continents and even been shot at while on the job.

The art of smuggling: Jonathan Tokeley-Parry spent three years behind bars for his role in smuggling artefacts out of Egypt. And he’s unrepentant, arguing that smuggling antiquities is the right thing to do if it gets them out of the hands of corrupt, incompetent officials.


Africa in Progress

“The challenges of publishing books in Africa”

What was the last book you read? And was it published in Africa? Chimurenga, StoryMoja, Farafina and Kwani are names of African publishing houses. The middle class is reading and buying more books and so the industry is thriving here and there, but there are many challenges: illiteracy, many languages, censorship, competition from abroad, and now: electronic publishing.

Our guests on this show are Divine Fuh (Cameroon) and Mirjam de Bruijn (Netherlands).

Tuesday Dec. 21

Commonwealth Story
"Somewhere" by Jude Dibia from Nigeria.
A child's tale of poverty and loss (read by Maynard Eziashi)

Live ! at the Concertgebouw - 2008
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is conducted by Jan Willem de Vriend, in a programme filled with 18th-century works. Alongside Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks, there is a Mozart Piano concerto, followed by Haydn's Cello Concerto. Your host, as usual, is Hans Haffmans.

Network Europe
A collaboration by Europe’s leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Wednesday Dec. 22

Network Europe
A collaboration by Europe’s leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Earth Beat India
A short version of RNW’s environmental programme Earth Beat produced for broadcast in partnership with All India Radio.

Thursday Dec 23

Network Europe

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

South Asia Wired
Programme in which South Asians get to talk to each other hosted by Dheera Sujan

Listen to South Asia Wired for the full story behind the news from the region.
'
Friday Dec 24

Bridges with Africa
Lively discussion and thought-provoking reports about and from the African continent

In Bridges with Africa this week, we take a closer look at new developments in the Victoire Ingabire case, we talk about the cuts in Dutch budget aid, we have a report on an NGO called The Hunger Project, we have an interview with the honorable South African justice Albi Sachs, and we have a report on Zimbabweans waiting for their visa in downtown Johannesburg.

Earth Beat
Marnie Chesterton and her team look at the footprint we’re leaving on our planet

“Preparing to celebrate”

With the holiday season rapidly approaching we look at some of the more unusual ways in which people party. How hard is it for a vegan to cook Christmas dinner? And should we all be renting our Christmas trees? Earth Beat sees the old year out and the new year in with different takes on festive cheer.

Network Europe
A collaboration by Europe’s leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.
(Ashleigh Elson/Radio Netherlands)

Radio Netherlands English schedule

Effective to: 27 March 2011

All times UTC

broadcast daily unless otherwise indicated
target areas: af (Africa) am (Americas) as (Asia) ca (Central America) eu (Europe) na (North America)pa (Pacific)
sa (South America) va (various areas)

All times UTC

1000-1057 9720as 12065as
1400-1500 12080as 15595va
1500-1557 15595as
1800-1857 6020af 11655af
1900-1957 7425af 9895af 11615af 11655af
2000-2057 5935af 7425af 11655af
(R Netherlands/Leo van der Wounde)

EMR slated for Sunday broadcast

Sunday at 1000 UTC

Frequency: 6140 kHz

Programs:
10.00 Tom Taylor program
10.20 Mike Taylor (Mail Box program)

EMR Internet radio service on Sunday and Monday.

Program repeats are at the following times:
10.00, 13:00, 16:00, 19:00, 22:00 UTC

Please visit http://www.emr.org.uk/ and click on the “EMR internet radio” button which you will find throughout the website (see the menu on the left).

Please send all reception reports to: studio@emr.org.uk
Good Listening
(Tom Taylor)

South Korean shortwave station joins hands to target North Korea

Text of report by South Korean newspaper Choson Ilbo website on 16 December

Four radio stations broadcasting programmes to North Korea joined hands in a live event at Cheonggye Plaza in downtown Seoul on Wednesday afternoon.

Radio Free North Korea, North Korea Reform Radio, Open Radio for North Korea, and Radio Free Chosun denounced the North for shelling Yeonpyeong Island in November and called for the resumption of propaganda broadcasts to the North. A telephone conversation with a North Korean was played during the live broadcast. The resident of North Hamgyong Province, identified only as Choi, said that after the shelling rice prices more than doubled and power supply was cut off there.

“When I was in the North, I listened a lot to radio programmes broadcast from South Korea,” one defector said. “Although I was afraid of being found out, I listened because I was anxious to know about the outside world. Many people there did the same”.

Ha Tae-keung, the head of Open Radio, called for the South Korean government to support the stations. “Currently, broadcasters specializing in programmes for the North are transmitting on shortwave, which costs tens of thousands of dollars in royalties to foreign countries. We could broadcast better sound quality to more North Koreans if we’re given mediumwave or AM frequencies which the government isn’t using”.

(Source: Choson Ilbo website, Seoul, in English 16 Dec 10 via BBC Monitoring)
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)